Harvest time at the Patch yesterday. Brendan got up the ladder into the Bramley apple tree while Fizz and Lilian transferred the apples to the box below.

Brendan apple picking from on high

Fizz and Lillian collecting the apples

And a modest squash harvest this year.

Modest squash harvest Oct 2013

Members were busy down the patch despite the poor weatheron Saturday for http://www.bigdig.org.uk/bournemouthandpoole/

One visitor, Graham, documented his experience at http://www.demotix.com/news/1877522/big-dig-2013-bournemouth-and-poole#media-1877327

Another busy Third Saturday workday. What did we do with our time ? Early and Maincrop potatoes were planted, Jan brought down a bird house, which Mark critiqued, and Andy then set about enhancing. Marcos brought down and planted some excellent onions, grown from seed.

The bed for some of the maincrop potatoes had been shelter for 4 or 5 toads, some of which hopped away, others were relocated. Mark highlighted that toads tend to have dry skin, frogs tend to be damp. So no need to kiss them then.

Mark displaying a toad which was sheltering under the plastic

A serious business working out the spacing for the crop. Fliss wielding the tape measure whilst Harriet supervises. The potatoes were laid on a bed of comfrey leaves, to provide instant food to the corms. A layer of grass on top is supposed to help with reducing the risk of scab (according to Bob Flowerdew!). And a thin layer of soil. To be banked up once the plants are well established, and not before, or too much energy goes into leaf rather than root (and potato) production.

Fliss and Gary Planting maincrop potatoes

What Gary forgot to mention until the  two beds had been planted was that there were two varieties of potato in the same paper bag. It will be interesting cropping them to work out which was which !

Comfrey for food, grass over potatoes and a bit of earth

An unusual level of supervision, even for us ! Kat, Mark and Marcos looking on whilst Fliss, Ken and Adam get on with the planting. Harriet wandering off to sort another priority.

We had copious amounts of tea, a great venison stew, and as usual, a good mix of other homemade food to share. I let the side down by bringing a bought cake, but it was from a stall at Broadstone Farmers Market, a delicious St Clements cake from the Putticks at Lychett Maltravers.

Gary and Andy fiddled with the water system. The overflow from the third greenhouse bath towards the pond is leaking a bit, and we were not sure whether it was flowing. An extensive search for a rubber washer unexpectedly revealed a blackbird nesting in the compound. She’s found a great hideyhole, but that makes extracting any useful stuff from around her difficult for a while.

Andy Hadley

As is customary it seems these days, I wasn’t able to make the whole workday, but I did pop down twice, to a hive of activity.

Theresas Permaculture Raised Beds come to life

In particular, Kat and Ken were busy creating the high raised beds as designed by Theresa, and according to some of the principles that Sepp Holzer has been practicing in the Alps over decades. This involves burying logs under the soil, and in our case some of the straw was delivered as left over from the Lush Strawbale coolstore, to act as a slow release fertiliser. The roots of a variety of plants interspersed and cropped individually hold the sides together. Or that is the theory. To make them more alpine, Brendan the man mountain joined them, shovelling dirt profusely, but not always where Gary chose.

Gary grafting three varieties of apples

Gary and Mark were practicing the art of grafting, especially on the Cox’s Pippin tree by the gate. This was grown from seed, and is a large tree. On 3 different adjacent boughs, they grafted different scions. Gary had  a nifty tool that took a u shaped nick out of one end, and a matching protruberance from the other. The ideal is for the layer just below the bark to be touching.

They then went on to graft black mulberry (are you sure this time Mark) onto the white mulberry tree which was planted in error. The black are better eaters, and the white are good for silkworms. King James got there before us, the other way about, as he was after planting a wood to feed silkworms, but had the wrong tree too.

History of mulberries, and a recipie for Mulberry Wine can be found at http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/mulcom62.html

Dante inspecting the frogspawn in the stream

In the stream, a month ago, Mark laid a few simple rows of stones. The intention was to slow the stream and to create pools. When it rains, these streams become a bit of a torrent, and we have no intention of holding the water back as it drains much of Oakdale (or Stanley Green at least). The rewards are swift. There were two large lumps of frogspawn, where clearly the frogs were impressed with his handiwork. Not sure they’re clear on this photo, but one mound either side, level with the vertical stick on the bank.

Peggy worked around site, looking at the trees, and adding identifying tags to them.

Harriet and Marcos planting seed

Harriet and Marcos took the fleece off the bed to the north of the greenhouse, which had looked something like a roman’s reclining dining chair all winter, and re-packed this material around the edge of the bed to reduce wash-off. New seedlings were distributed across the top. Definately signs of spring.

A fortnight ago, I restored a pane of glass behind the fig in the corner of the greenhouse, that had slipped to create an unexpected ventilation hole. An extra slither of glass, and a rearrangement of the rocks below may have sorted it, but I desparately need more greenhouse clips. I even went to B&Q to buy some, but they only had expensive mixed packs  with other stuff we didn’t need.

And I looked at all the watertanks. A couple, after over 10 years of service are dribbling a bit at the junctions. Not suprising really, but over a dry summer, they will run out sooner than needed. So I emptied the 60 gallon tank at the end of the chain into a spare so I could fix the connector. A debate ensued about whether the location of the tank is now right (perenniel crops at that end because of overshadowing from the Oak trees). No conclusion, so haven’t yet relocated it. Mind you, I haven’t fixed it either. There’s always tomorrow.

First crop of forced rhubarb

Oh, and not forgetting the rhubarb. First crop of the season, the picture is Marcos picking the last of the long stems,  we use a plastibig plastic barrel sawn in half to cover a couple of the heads each year (do we remember to pick different ones ? Probably not!) This is such an excellent and longstanding crop in the garden, right through from now to October. Marcos said that he had never seen this plant in Spain, but then they have Oranges, a much sweeter crop !

Andy

Following a delivery to Tatnam Patch of the offcuts from the LUSH Straw Bale Coldstore, Harriet, Ken, Marcos and Fliss dodged the rain on Sunday to shift the straw mountain by the gate to be stored in the old leafmould bins at the other end of the site. We have already used some on a few of the beds.

Ken and Marcos shifting straw

Check out Lush’s straw bale design at https://www.lush.co.uk/our-values/the-green-hub

Gary and Andy arrived quite late, and excavated the overflow pipe from the greenhouse to the pond. Gary found a new hole in one of the two pipes, and we later found that a fork had pierced right through the other one. Andy cycled home for glue and a short bit of downpipe to patch the pipes, and reinforce the join, and we were back in business. A large root of the willow by the pond had heaved that end upwards, so water was no longer being delivered efficiently. Darkness overtook us before we could lay stones along the length to reduce the chance of over-enthusiastic weeding repeating the breaks. A job for next time, along with overflowing the final bath in the greenhouse to see whether it actually reaches the pond.

Worday 21st Jan 2012

A very blustery day. We worked to the sound of various sheds on the other allotments flapping themselves to bits (especially the plastic roof of one shed).

Well when I say we worked, we worked our way through an impromptu and unplanned italian spread. Both Mark and Marcos bought pasta based dishes, Andy bought Pizza, Ken and Ruth a tasty ommelette whose grand name I forget.

Harriet, Mark and Ruth working the brambles

Once again, Mark and Harriet attacked the brambles, with Kat joining in when she arrived. Ruth and Ken worked wonders with the soft fruit area, creating long forgotten paths, and a pyramid for the loganberry. Marcos replanted the other overshaded apple tree, and then set to solve the conundrum of the broken zip on the new polytunnel. As Gary was busy at Pat’s (Ourganics) doing stuff, Andy was promoted to teaboy, although Dante was first inducted in the art of lighting the device by Mark.

Tat, Brendan, Lilly and bump were back from New Zealand, Brendan readying the rhubarb for one patch to be forced, and lots of chat and catching up to do.

Alan and Dante cut back the woody growth from diverse herbaceous plants, I especially noticed (and worried for) Dante leaning over the pond to cut the Marshmallow back. But he was fine.

There are some panes on the greenhouse that I’ve sort of mended in the past, with a general view that they’ll do till I get back to them. A strong wind is capable of all sorts of mischeif, and given a broken pane, is quite capable of blowing the rest out. The trouble is always not having enough clips. We have spare panes of glass,  all reclaimed, inherited from various other greenhouses, and I even keep the broken bits if I think there might be a usable chunk. But somehow clips just go missing. Guess I should dig around to find where they are buried ! Anyhow one old bit mended, one big bit to sort when I get clips.

Felicity joined us, armed with a needle and thread to possibly sew up the zip on the polytunnel, though as it turned out, they worked a way of closing it without. And Tania arrived, armed with homemade bread and a rather good fruity cake.

Another productive and sociable workday. In winter, the structure of the garden is clear, it is looking in good order, whilst we await the revolution that Theresa is planning for some of the beds as a design towards her permaculture diploma. I think that will be a major feature of the next workday in a fortnight.

Andy

A new years workday at the patch, and lots to do. Broad beans to plant, and we never quite reliably get around to a winter crop for the greenhouse, so Marcos  and Dante were busy digging extra compost into the tomato bed, before Marcos planted salad leaf seeds.

Gary advised leaving the tomato roots in place, for the beneficial effects of fungal growth at bringing nutrients in from the deeper soil. And I thought there was plastic under the bed to keep the soil a bit more moist.

And then the dilemma – broadcast the seeds or plant in rows. We’re keen to move to less formal patches, but especially in the greenhouse with fresh compost, if we don’t plant in rows, it will be difficult to tell the crop from the weeds, and that will make for some interesting salads knowing the many wildflower seeds that self-set around site.  So rows it was.

Andy was a bit late to site, I saw Ken and Ruth heading for home, and Harriet briefly. A bit of plumbing to restore the flow from the roof to the water system in the greenhouse (and the overflow beyond into the pond), forgot the  glasscutters again to repair the pane that was cracked before christmas (it needs cutting around the pipe taking the water from gutter inside to the tanks). Another job for next time.

One of the apple trees looked a bit sad. Possibly the roots had become too entwined from having sat too long in the pot before planting a year ago. Mark suggested digging it up and chopping or teasing the rootball apart. I tried, but one side of the tree seemed well anchored, so I gave it a go on the unsecured side.

And shifted another apple tree which we had optimistically planted too close to the overhanging Oaks, and which was clearly struggling for light. There’s another to move next time.

As usual at this time of year, Mark was busy tending the brambles, with Harriet assisting. There was lots else going on, but I missed it, so any pictures or anaecdotes welcome folk.

Andy

Patch Workday – Sunday 3rd July 2011

A hot and sunny workday saw Gary, Sandra, Harriet and Manuela down at the Patch weeding the beans, harvesting potatoes and sowing peas. Oh yes, and checking the quality of the first bottle of “Chateau TOP Unremarkable” – which was surprisingly drinkable! A light, fruity red.
We also welcomed a visitor – Chris from the New Leaf community allotment site in Throop came over to take a tour of the Patch and exchange thoughts and ideas.

Cinnabar moth caterpillars

We were delighted to find these resident Wolves supporters munching their way happily through the ragwort. They are the caterpillars of the lovely red and black day-flying cinnabar moths. The toxins that they ingest from the ragwort make the caterpillars extremely distasteful to predators. Great to see so many this year.

Another busy workday on the patch. Sunny but cold. Ken and Alex were busy digging. Sure I heard Alex declare he’d hit Australia at one point. Mark looking on in a brief gap between giving tours of the garden.

New bank being constructed alongside path

It was great to have a visit from four enthusiastic members of Transition Dorchester visit us, they are involved with creating a community farm http://www.transitiontowndorchester.org/category/community-farm/ in fact they’re talking about us and their visit on that page !

Ruth was busy weeding around the apples, preparing for herb planting. Jan and Mary were busy in the main plot – digging out the last parsnips and weeding several beds, whilst Harriet forged a  path onto the new bed, and Mark planted some english violets in full bloom.

Harriet forging a new path

Andy arrived just in time for lunch, and finally got around to reinstating the cast iron bath in the greenhouse (we had to take it out to get rid of the Fig which had escaped its’ concrete surround and was far too big and leafy to fruit well). Even empty, the bath weighs a ton, and 3 of us raised it back into place. Just a little leak to solve, and a joint on the high tanks, and … oh, too many bits.

Gary made a great soup based on Turkey and Chicken stock. Mark made a bean stew packed with cardamons and grated ginger. Jan produced a rhubarb and ginger crumble, from the first TOP rhubarb crop, plus some pears. Ruth brought Pesto and Aubergine parcels, and some stollen, and as usual everyone feasted.

Alex sent a number of pictures of progress to Kim, as she was stuck in Birmingham.

And just before it got too dark and cold to work, Gary planted the Sour Cherry Tree. This is on the north side of the greenhouse, as something that tolerates shade. The intent is to fan it a bit to help get some low hanging fruit  (they don’t like being too trained).

Sour Cherry being planted

First TOPS Workday of 2011, Sun 2nd January

Not as cold or sunny and clear as predicted, but 4 degrees is still quite nippy.

Brendan and Ken laying slabs

I didn’t make much of the day, so only saw the stalwarts at work. This time of year is great for structural jobs around the garden, and that was most of what was occuring.

Main Path

Brendan and Ken were busy laying paving slabs recently reclaimed from a garden in Wimborne. We have used woodchip for most of our main paths, which tends to rot down over time, and need weeding of persistent deep-rooted dandelions and the like. This particular path, between the gate, shed and greenhouse gets a lot of traffic. With the newly re-dug bed on one side, and the steep slope to the stream on the other, and a tendancy to get water lying at the dip outside the greenhouse door, a more solid path seems a good re-use of these slabs.

Tidying the Greenhouse

I didn’t take a picture, but Harriet was busy in the greenhouse, clearing away the Tomato stalks, and the many vine-leaves that have dropped everywhere around.

Water works

Greeted by ‘the water is a bit low in the high tanks’, I took a quick look, and the opportunity to scoop leaves from the ice cold water in the bottom of the tanks. Distracted by a conversation with Harriet, I then notice through the misty window that the connection to the bottom of the tanks had completely detatched. That would explain why they were empty, the frost had presumably put the joint under extra pressure.

Mark has been keen to see the level of water in the hydroponic bath at the end of the greenhouse dropped. This is complicated, as the level is actually set in the bath next door, completely covered, and supporting a gravel bed. Now the peppers and other plants have died back, it was possible to explore. But my recollection of the arrangements was a bit wrong, the original bath overflow sets the level, not the pipe mounted in the outflow. So raising the soil level in the baths will be the easiest alternative.

Mark on the annual bramble tackling

Bramble Clearance

Our site was originally 8 foot high with brambles (in 1997 when we started). They are a pioneer plant on the natural journey towards woodland, looping over themselves, re-rooting wherever they touch soil, and protecting sapling canopy trees. We originally had to cut our way in through the gate. All over the site we are still wrestling with outbreaks of brambles, but because the neighbours love blackberry crumble (and so do we!), we left stands of them along the boundary fence with the church.

So every year, principally Mark, but sometimes others, prune the brambles along the church side of the fence, both to encourage new growth and crop, and to prevent those looking after the church grounds from feeling the need to clear the lot. The previous year’s growth produce the best blackberry crop, so the aim is to cut out old growth, and those pioneer branches that cannot be trained back into the fence.

They fight back, so eye protection is a sensible precaution. But the thorns always seem to penetrate my gloves when I help. Forgot to bring them with me today !

Composting Toilet

I forget how many years we have been debating the options, design and genesis of a toilet at TOP. Certainly 10 years. We have made do to date with a bucket, which had a corner developed within the compound (messy storage area screened off by wood reclaimed from old pallets).

I found a fascinating account of the Earth closets, which were invented by Henry Moule, the vicar of Fordington (now a suburb of Dorchester), and his invention competed with the water closet for a time. The following wasn’t the page, but there is a good picture here.

http://www.oldandinteresting.com/earth-closet.aspx

Anyhow, Gary found a good bit of mahogany in a skip, and some ideas from the way OTs develop toilet raisers, and some secondhand bits to create a bucket loo. For light and waterproofing, we have some double-glazed panels as a roof.

Ideally, we need to separate the liquid from solid waste. A little sawdust on the solid waste will keep it smelling sweet and gently rotting down over months. The liquid tends to create a smell, better put into the compost heap soonest.

Apparently the Environment Agency are relaxed about composting loos, so long as they don’t discharge into a waterway.

Gary busy installing the long awaited composting loo

Anything else

Apologies if anyone else was there and busy before I arrived. Tat and Lilian made a quick tour of inspection, having experienced the delights of Moors Valley for a birthday party. Otherwise, I missed you.

Andy